Moonlighting @ Monkey Hill

On the approach to Jhansi, a Lucknow WDM2 #16213 waits for clearance with a rake of BOXN empties in tow.

I never knew springs were emergency tools and that a hand cart could qualify for a van !! Taken at Bina

At the crack of dawn, a holiday special headed by a WAG7 enters Manmad station.

Yakking away to glory, unmindful of the beautiful day thats breaking behind him. Taken at Manmad

Leaving Manmad behind....

Goa Express to Nizamuddin roars past us, headed by Pune WDM3A #16013R

This Guntakal WDM2 makes a menacing sight along with its partner as they make a hefty effort pulling a rake of BTPN wagons at Kasthi near Daund. The rake was banked by a Pune WDM2.

The account at Monkey Hill was opened by the Udyan Express heading to Mumbai behind WDP4 #20037. Ashwin took a pic of this very train, about 45 minutes before us.

A WCG2 hauled express snakes into Monkey Hill yard on the Dn main line, just as a pair of descending bankers head to Karjat on the Up line.

A pair of WCG2 screamers bring up the rear of the Express.

As night falls, another pair of bankers head downhill past the DC sub-station. LED markers streak across the frame while the pretty lights of Khopoli town twinkle in the valley.

Meanwhile, at Monkey Hill another train makes a hefty effort to tackle the grades assisted by WCG2s. LED tail lamps mark the passage of the bankers while the hills in the background buzz with the traffic on the Mumbai - Pune highway.

More night action at Monkey Hill, this time up, close and personal.

Just like the industrious ants, WCG2s keep scuttling up and down the Bhore Ghats all day. Here, a triplet use the Up main line to Karjat. Note where the 30sec cuts off the path of the lead loco on the right of the frame, at that very spot, the beam of the

Morning comes again, and the three campers pose against the temporary Monkey Hill observation cabin ;o)
(From right, Ashish Kuvelkar, John Mani and myself)

Heading down towards the tracks, we encounter an uphill BCN/A freight assisted by a trio if WCG2 locos. 20134 brings up the rear with flags being waved out of both the cabs.

Another triplet, another BCN/A rake, this one heading downhill with #20117 in the lead.

The Khalasi at Monkey Hill cabin, gives the all clear flag to the Pune bound Intercity, headed by a WCAM3. These locos are now found only on select trains on the Bhore Ghat.

For those who don't know... the place is called Monkey Hill for precisely this reason.